Lily | Clarity for Creators 🌷

Blog: Burnt Out But Still Here: My Journey With Creative Burnout (And How to Heal It)

Creative burnout is real, and if you’ve been feeling uninspired, overwhelmed, or just *done*, I want you to know that you’re not alone 🫶🏽 I’ve been moving through it, too.

Between the noise of social media, world events that feel heavier by the day 🌍, and the pressure to constantly show up, I lost my spark. I didn’t know how to create anymore. And even though content creation is my job, my passion, my love, I felt numb.

There were days I’d stare at my camera and feel nothing. Days when I wanted to post but couldn’t find the words. Days I cried because the version of me who once *loved* this work felt so far away. And still, I kept showing up, until I couldn’t.

In this blog, I’m opening up about creative burnout: what it looks like, why it happens, and how I’ve been finding my way back to joy. Because sometimes we don’t need a new strategy we need to *pause*, *breathe*, and *reset* ✨

What Is Creative Burnout?
Creative burnout isn’t just about being tired. It’s about feeling disconnected from your work, your voice, your spark. It’s the mental fog, the emotional heaviness, the moments where everything you post feels empty or forced.

It can look like:

- Avoiding your camera
- Resenting your to-do list
- Feeling like nothing is landing
- Overthinking every post
- Physically feeling drained

And let’s be honest being online all the time doesn’t help. When you're constantly scrolling, consuming, comparing... your creative energy gets depleted without you even realizing it.

Why Does Burnout Happen?
There’s no one answer, but here are some common causes:

- Lack of rest (and rest without guilt!)
- Pressure to stay relevant
- Tying your identity to your output
- Saying yes when you need to say no
- Not having hobbies *off* the internet

It sneaks up when you're running on autopilot. When creating becomes *another* thing on your checklist instead of a joyful outlet 💡

**My Personal Burnout Story**
For me, burnout hit hard after months of go-go-go. I was working, filming, editing, posting, barely breathing in between. Then world events started piling on, and emotionally, I just shut down. Creating content felt pointless. I didn’t feel like myself anymore.

So I stopped. I didn’t force it. I gave myself permission to rest. To feel. To do nothing at all.

And slowly, things started to shift.

I picked up my journal again. I did makeup just for fun. I danced around my room. I remembered what it felt like to *enjoy* being creative 💃🏽

How to Heal from Burnout

- Rest deeply (not just sleep/disconnection)
- Journal your thoughts without pressure
- Move your body in a way that feels good
- Try something new or nostalgic (paint, read, dance)
- Reconnect with your “why”
- Talk it out with a friend or mentor 💬

How to Prevent Burnout

- Set boundaries around work and screen time
- Build a schedule with breathing room
- Make time for offline joy
- Remind yourself that your worth is not tied to productivity
- Plan breaks *before* you need them

Burnout isn’t the end. It’s a signal. A gentle (or not-so-gentle) nudge to slow down and care for yourself 🌱

If you’re in the thick of it right now, I see you. You are still creative. You are still valuable. And your spark isn’t gone, it’s just resting 🕯️

🎧 Listen to the full episode of the For Creators By Lily podcast for my full story, healing tips, and a reminder that you’re never alone in this.

Sending you all the love and light 💗

#CreativeBurnout #ForCreatorsPodcast #LilyMMUA #CreatorHealing #MentalHealthForCreators #PodcastForCreators

5 months ago | [YT] | 0

Lily | Clarity for Creators 🌷

Blog: So you want free product, brand recognition, and to start building relationships with your fave beauty or lifestyle brands, but you have zero followers and no industry contacts?
👀 Breathe, bestie. I got you.
Here’s how to actually start getting PR, even as a brand new creator:

💡 Step 1: Fix Up Your Page First
Let’s keep it real. No brand is sending PR to someone with zero content, no bio, and a blurry profile pic.
→ Start posting consistently, even if it’s just with products you already have.
→ Show you’re serious. Show effort. It matters.

💬 Step 2: Be an Engager, Not a Stranger
Want PR? Be a fan first.
Follow the brand
Comment with intention (not just “so cute”)
Engage genuinely for 3–4 weeks

Then send a message. Something like:

"Hi! I’m a genuine fan of your brand and would love the chance to try more and create content for you if there’s ever an opportunity."
Simple. Honest. Authentic.

📧 Step 3: Email Like a Pro
If you only find customer service emails, try this:
“Hi! Could you direct me to the appropriate person in your influencer marketing or PR department?”
You can also:

Search LinkedIn for marketing team members
Try Hunter.io to find emails
Use common email formats like firstname@brand.com
🏷 Step 4: Tag Them…Always
Already using the product? TAG them in everything.
→ Reels
→ Stories
→ Photos
→ Comments
→ Even emails: “Here’s a video I created using your [product]—I’d love to collaborate in the future!”
You’re building awareness that you already love their brand. That’s what PR teams look for.

📲 Step 5: Use These Free Product & PR Sites
You don’t need thousands of followers to use:
Mavenly
AspireIQ
Mavrck
Billo
Brandbassador
Influenster
JoinBrands
Skeepers
Upfluence
Create your profile, apply for campaigns, and show up as the pro you are becoming.

🎥 Step 6: You Still Have to Post
Brands don’t send PR for fun. They send it to people who create.
You have to show up, even if it’s messy, even if your lighting isn’t perfect.
→ Post sample content
→ Review your fave $5 product like it’s a sponsored shoot
→ Stay consistent

🚀 Final Thoughts
You can build a brand from zero. I did.
Show up with heart. Be a genuine fan. And remember, every big creator once had no followers, too.
Let this be your sign. Start today.

📌 Save this post, share it with your creator group chat, and subscribe to the For Creators by Lily podcast for more like this.

5 months ago | [YT] | 2

Lily | Clarity for Creators 🌷

BLOG: Why Quarterly Outreach *Actually* Works 💼📩

(*And How I Landed a $1400 UGC Deal in One Hour*)

Let’s talk about pitching.

Not the scary, overthink-every-word kind. I’m talking about the kind that *actually works*—intentional, timely, strategic outreach that aligns with when brands are *ready* to spend 💰

Because here’s the truth: if you’re not sending outreach emails at the *start* (or even the end) of each quarter, you’re probably missing out on some of the easiest yeses of the year.

I sent one refreshed outreach email at 8 a.m. on Monday morning... and by 9 a.m., I closed a $1400 UGC deal. No posting. Just content creation. All because I showed up with a clear message, updated portfolio, and made it easy to say yes.

Let’s get into why quarterly outreach is such a powerful move and how you can use it to start landing brand deals too ✨

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💡 Why Quarterly Outreach Works So Well

Every new quarter = fresh budgets, new campaigns, and brands looking for new creators to plug into their pipeline. Think product launches, seasonal campaigns, evergreen assets, influencer strategy refreshes... it's all on the table.

And when you position yourself at the *right time* early in the quarter, you’re showing up right when teams are *planning*, not when they’re overwhelmed or already booked out.

Quarterly outreach keeps you top-of-mind without being annoying. It’s smart, strategic, and shows you understand how brand timelines work 🧠

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📁 What I Said in My Outreach Email

Here’s what made this email hit:

- I said I had just updated my portfolio
- I shared that I recently graduated 🎓
- I mentioned my new availability and quick turnaround time
- I made it easy to click, review, and respond

It wasn’t fancy. It was real, relevant, and respectful of their time. That’s what builds trust and gets brands excited to work with you.

---

✨ The Power of Touchpoints

Most deals don’t come from one cold email. They come from *momentum*. Brands remember the person who showed up last quarter, followed up at the right time, and kept it professional and kind every step of the way.

Quarterly outreach isn’t just about getting the “yes”—it’s about building long-term relationships that lead to more deals down the line 💌

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📥 Ready to Pitch? Grab My Free Templates

If you’re ready to pitch but you don’t know what to say, I've got you. I created 5 customizable outreach email templates you can use right now. Each one has a different tone: super professional, friendly, creative, results-driven, and casual, so you can find your flow and send with confidence.

🎯 Download your free quarterly outreach email pack → www.canva.com/design/DAGtciQpqYw/Ysq2mH8jzl4w9MgEd…

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Final Thoughts 💬

Don’t wait around for brands to find you. Create the opportunity. Send the email. Update your portfolio. Share your story.

You never know when that one outreach could be the deal that shifts your whole quarter.

Let this be your reminder to *show up*. You’re more ready than you think 🤍

—

Need more guidance?

🎙 Listen to the full podcast episode here → creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/for-creators/epis…

📂 Download the free email templates here → www.canva.com/design/DAGtciQpqYw/Ysq2mH8jzl4w9MgEd…

📧 Start sending those touchpoints!!

you’ve got this.

5 months ago | [YT] | 1

Lily | Clarity for Creators 🌷

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6 months ago | [YT] | 4

Lily | Clarity for Creators 🌷

Ep. 6 is LIVE! Breaking down why 2025 is the BEST time for you to start your content creation career!!! https://youtu.be/ztsWWl8EX9o?si=tDyEV...

6 months ago | [YT] | 0

Lily | Clarity for Creators 🌷

Ep. 5 is LIVE! I'm breaking down how to use trends to build success rather than out of desperation.

6 months ago | [YT] | 5

Lily | Clarity for Creators 🌷

if you’re feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or just kinda “meh” with content lately… same

so I made this list. for me. for you. for anyone trying to grow without losing themselves in the scroll.

this isn’t your usual “how to grow” checklist.
this is how to stay in it without losing you.
more where that came from.

follow for creator truths, content strategy that feels good, and little reminders like this 🤍

#ContentWithClarity #ForCreatorsByLily

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6 months ago | [YT] | 1

Lily | Clarity for Creators 🌷

I said everything I’ve been holding back about being a creator in 2025.

The pressure to post, the nonstop advice, the burnout, the feeling of “I’m doing everything and nothing is working”... yeah, we’re talking about all of it.

This new episode of For Creators is for the ones who are quietly overwhelmed, creating from confusion instead of clarity, and just want to find their way again.

I walk through:
✨ how to know who to actually listen to online
🧠 why your strategy might be working against you
💡 how to reconnect with your why and your who
📉 and why more advice isn't always more helpful

This one’s raw, honest, and full of the lessons I wish I had learned sooner.

🎧 Now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube
📝 Full blog post breakdown is linked in my bio (and below)

Whether you’re pivoting or just trying to make sense of the noise, I hope it gives you exactly what you need.

#ForCreators #ContentClarity #CreatorBurnout #SocialMediaStrategy #ContentCreators #ForCreatorsByLily

6 months ago | [YT] | 1

Lily | Clarity for Creators 🌷

This podcast is the ultimate guide for content creators, and we are officially alive on Spotify and Apple Podcasts 🥳🎙️✨ #ContentCreators #ForCreators

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6 months ago | [YT] | 1

Lily | Clarity for Creators 🌷

First YouTube video is LIVE! Talking alll things usage rights, exclusivity traps, revision overload, and shady contract terms that no one warns you about.

💼 This episode is your creator survival guide because if you don’t know your rights, you’re probably losing money.

🎧 Tap in now →https://youtu.be/wOibW2lrIn0

6 months ago | [YT] | 1